The 40s are a very awkward decade for many American actresses. That's when many begin to fade, not necessarily because of lack of talent, but because that's when Hollywood decides it's a good time to put them out to pasture, where they roam around our television sets as sitcom mothers or disappear into obscurity, at least until they're old enough to latch onto dramatic roles or grandmothers. Sure, there are exceptions -- Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker (kind of) and Julie Roberts (kind of) -- but for every Jennifer Aniston, there's an Elisabeth Shue, for every Julie Roberts, there's an Annabella Sciora, and for every SJP or Bullock, there's a Michelle Pfeiffer or Tea Leoni. Glen Close practically disappeared in her 40s; what happened to Sela Ward; Sharon Stone lost it; where's Mira Sorvino? Or Geena Davis? For a lot of actresses, 40 is the end of the line (just go with me here on this broad, generalized maybe even untrue statement -- it helps me to justify the post), which is why this morning, we'd like to celebrate women in their 40s with another For Your Consideration post ahead of next month's Pajiba 10.

Here are the ten hottest celebrity women in their 40s. I'd also note that they are likely the most talented celebrity women in their 40s, too (though, perhaps not in this order).